‘Missteps’: Disney Animation chief takes leave of absence

(HOLLYWOOD REPORTER) — Disney Animation head John Lasseter is taking a leave of absence from Pixar after acknowledging “painful” conversations and unspecified “missteps,” he wrote in a memo to staff on Tuesday obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

Lasseter’s statement arrived as THR was preparing a story detailing alleged misconduct by the executive at Disney/Pixar.

Lasseter is best known as one of the founders of Pixar, which began as a part of the graphics group at Lucasfilm. Along with Ed Catmull, he popularized CGI in animation with early films like Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Monster’s Inc.